| hebrew | kjv | web | basic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
ושבתי אני ואראה את־כל־העשקים אשר נעשים תחת השמש והנה דמעת העשקים ואין להם מנחם ומיד עשקיהם כח ואין להם מנחם׃ |
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. | Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. | And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter. | |||
| 2. |
ושבח אני את־המתים שכבר מתו מן־החיים אשר המה חיים עדנה׃ |
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. | Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. | So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life. | |||
| 3. |
וטוב משניהם את אשר־עדן לא היה אשר לא־ראה את־המעשה הרע אשר נעשה תחת השמש׃ |
Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. | Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. | Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun. | |||
| 4. |
וראיתי אני את־כל־עמל ואת כל־כשרון המעשה כי היא קנאת־איש מרעהו גם־זה הבל ורעות רוח׃ |
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. | Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. | And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind. | |||
| 5. |
הכסיל חבק את־ידיו ואכל את־בשרו׃ |
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. | The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. | The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food. | |||
| 6. |
טוב מלא כף נחת ממלא חפנים עמל ורעות רוח׃ |
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. | Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind. | One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind. | |||
| 7. |
ושבתי אני ואראה הבל תחת השמש׃ |
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. | Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. | Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun. | |||
| 8. |
יש אחד ואין שני גם בן ואח אין־לו ואין קץ לכל־עמלו גם־עיניו לא־ תשבע עשר ולמי אני עמל ומחסר את־נפשי מטובה גם־זה הבל וענין רע הוא׃ |
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. | There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business. | It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work. | |||
| 9. |
טובים השנים מן־האחד אשר יש־להם שכר טוב בעמלם׃ |
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work. | |||
| 10. |
כי אם־יפלו האחד יקים את־חברו ואילו האחד שיפול ואין שני להקימו׃ |
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. | For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up. | And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper. | |||
| 11. |
גם אם־ישכבו שנים וחם להם ולאחד איך יחם׃ |
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? | Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? | So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself? | |||
| 12. |
ואם־יתקפו האחד השנים יעמדו נגדו והחוט המשלש לא במהרה ינתק׃ |
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken. | |||
| 13. |
טוב ילד מסכן וחכם ממלך זקן וכסיל אשר לא־ידע להזהר עוד׃ |
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. | Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more. | A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others. | |||
| 14. |
כי־מבית הסורים יצא למלך כי גם במלכותו נולד רש׃ |
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. | For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. | Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom. | |||
| 15. |
ראיתי את־כל־החיים המהלכים תחת השמש עם הילד השני אשר יעמד תחתיו׃ |
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. | I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. | I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king. | |||
| 16. |
אין־קץ לכל־העם לכל אשר־היה לפניהם גם האחרונים לא ישמחו־בו כי־ גם־זה הבל ורעיון רוח׃ |
There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. | There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was--yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. | There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind. | |||